Spreading device for apparel-collars.



No.847,'485. PATENTBD'MAR. 19, 1901.

. v F M. LILLEY.

SPRBADI-NG DEVICE FOR APPAREL GOLLARS.

APPLICATION FILED JAILZS, 1908.

FLORENCE MARY LILLEY, OF EALING, ENGLAND.

SPREADING DEVICE FOR APPAREL-COLLARS.

I Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented March 19, 1907.

Application filed January 23. 1906. Serial No. 297,514.

To on whom, it 711/6071 concern:

Be it known that I, FLoRENoE MARY LIL- LEY, a subject of the King of England, and a resident of Ealing, in Middlesex, England, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Spreading Devices for Collars and other Articles of Apparel, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to spreading devices for maintaining neckbands, dress-collars, cufls, or other pieces of flexible material in an extended state, and has for its object to provide a handy form of spreader which will effect the desired object in an efficient manner.

According to this invention the spreader comprises two tubes of suitable length disposed approximately parallel to each other and connected together by distance-pieces of convenient dimensions. Within one tube lies a rod whose ends extend beyond the tube and are bent over and the extremities preferably sharpened and turned inward, so that they will spring into the open ends of the other tube. When placing the spreader in position, one of the catch-pieces is sprung out from the tube and made to pass through the material, which is to be held in an extended state. The same process is gone through with the catch-piece at the other end of the spreader, the device then holding the fabric in the desired manner.

In a modification in place of having a continuous rod passing through the tube two U-shaped pieces are provided, one arm of each piece lying in one tube, and these two arms being connected together by a spring or separately spring-controlled. The other arm of each U-piece is conveniently sharpened and arranged so that it will engage with the end of the other tube. With this construction, in order to put the device in place, the U-pieces are drawn out and their free arms pass through the fabric into the tube. In another form three parallel tubes may be employed, the end pieces of which grip the material, being shaped like the letter E. The center projecting member of each piece will lie in the center tube, these members connected by a spring, while the other two 1 members of each piece may be sharpened or otherwise adapted to enter the ends of the lateral tubes.

The device may be produced in various ornamental forms and the construction varied in detail without departing from thespirit of the invention. Thus more than three tubes may be used, if desired, where a broader spreader is required.

In a construction where two end pieces are connected by a spring the tubes may be slightly flattened, the end pieces being also formed of flattened wire, the arrangement being such as to prevent those end pieces from turning and keep them in their proper positions relatively to the tubes when withdrawn. It is obvious that in place of arran ing the members of the end pieces to sli e within one of the tubes and be connected therein by a spring the tubes may be replaced by a rod and the sliding portion of each mem ber formed hollow to engage the rod, a spring connecting these sliding members being coiled about the rod.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 shows in longitudinal section one form of spreading device according to this invention. Fig. 2 shows in longitudinal section ,another form of spreading device according to this invention, and Figs. 3 and 4 illustrate in part section further modification of the device also according to this invention.

Like letters indicate like parts throughout the drawings.

In the form shown in Fig. 1 the spreader comprises two tubes A A, parallel to each other and connected by distance-pieces B. Within one of the tubes A is a rod C, whose ends are bent over, so that their inturned points C will spring into the open ends of the opposite tube A.

In the modification shown in Fig. 2 the rod is formed in two pieces C D connected by a coil-spring E, which may be either within the tube, as in Fig. 2, or outside it, as illustrated in Fig. 4, where the U-shaped pieces are represented by C D, or each piece may be separately spring-controlled.

In a further modification (shown in Fig. 3) three parallel tubes A, A, and A are employed, and the end pieces C D which grip the material, are made double, as clearly shown in the drawing. The central projecting member of each piece lies in the center tube A. These members maybe connected by a single coil-spring, as in Figs. 2 or 4, or may be separately spring-controlled by coil-springs E E, Fig. 3. When placing the spreader in position, the pointed ends C of the catch-pieces are sprung out of engagement with the ends of the tube A and are passed through the material, after which the points 0 are sprung back, so as to enter the tubes A the whole maintaining the fabric in an extended state.

In the modifications shown in Figs. 2, 3, and 4 the catch-pieces are held in engage ment with the tube A or tubes A and A by the action of the coil-spring E or springs E E.

What I claim as my invention, and desire to secure by Letters latent, is

1. In a detachable spreading device for collars and other articles of apparel, the combination with parallel members connected together, of movable catch-pieces supported in one of the members and projecting from the ends thereof and means on another of the parallel members for securing the projecting or free ends of the catch-pieces.

2. In a detachable spreading device for collars and other articles of apparel, the combination with parallel tubes connected together, of catch-pieces supported in one of the tubular m'ernbers and projecting from the ends thereof and pointed ends on the' catchp'iec'es adapted to enter another of the tubular members.

3. In a detachable spreading device for collars and other articles of apparel, the combination with parallel tubes connected to gether, of spring controlled catch pieces supported in one of the tubes and projecting from the ends thereof and pointed ends on the catch-pieces adapted to enter another of the tubes.

4. In a detachable spreading device for collars and other articles of apparel the combination with parallel tubes connected together, of catch-pieces movably supported in one of the tubes and projecting from the ends thereof, pointed ends on the catch-pieces adapted to engage with another of the parallel tubes and means for securing the catchpieces together.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

FLORENCE MARY LILLEY.

Witnesses:

HAROLD WADE, HARRY B. BRIDGE. 

